Practice

Had practice tonight.

It went very well. We had a vocal coach tonight and she is very interesting. This is the 2nd time we have worked with her. She'll be around every couple of weeks all year. No stupid breathing exercises, lifting of the palette, singing into the mask etc.,

The basics of what she was saying was the following: Our body is our instrument and you shouldn't be trying to change it to make the sounds and hit the notes you want to. If you take a violin.. you don't change the shape of the violin.. it is the strings that count. Your vocal chords work naturally and know just what to do.

Ever hear a baby screaming it's heart out? How can an itty-bitty baby have a voice that can fill a room? Basically he isn't hindered by all the crap that we are. Children scream freely. Ask an adult to just stand up and really scream. He may yell.. but really scream, not so much.

It is amazing to me that when we each had to get up and sing individually.. the people who have the most hangups.. have absolutely no power in their voice or any resonance. They are all crisped up..and so is their voice.

These exercises will not only help liberate our voices.. but I think letting go to sing will help liberate our souls. It is amazing that notes you think you can't hit.. that you really can.


I know since the last time she came I have an easier time hitting the highest notes. I stopped thinking about not being able to hit it because it was too high.. and just sang.. let go. When I was worried about not hitting it.. I didn't know that just that was enough to tighten up the larynx.. and make it impossible to hit that note. When that happens .. you really think you can't do it and each time you tense up trying to do .. you only make it worse.

To really do this.. you have to let go of stuff. Stuff. Basically all any thing that that hurt you .. and made you build a shell around yourself.

This carries off into other areas of my life. I think I am not as afraid to take a risk because of being afraid. Sure.. things are still scary... It won't happen over night.. but I think it gives me courage I didn't have before. Courage to be who I really am and not what I think people expect of me.

Sure, you have to let yourself be vulnerable, and yes, easier said than done...but you can become truer to yourself. I want to feel those feelings and feel alive.